Marisa Sarratore Character Analysis in My Brilliant Friend

Marisa is Donato and Lidia’s daughter and Nino’s younger sister. After Donato is outed for having an affair with Melina Cappuccio, Marisa publicly denounces Melina as a “whore.” However, later on, Marisa seems to be a rather sweet and sociable young girl who spends time bonding with Lenù during their shared weeks vacationing on the island of Ischia.

Marisa Sarratore Character Timeline in My Brilliant Friend

The timeline below shows where the character Marisa Sarratore appears in My Brilliant Friend. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...the “mean[ness] in [Lila’s] heart.” One afternoon, walking home from school with Nino’s younger sister Marisa Sarratore, Lila and Lenù notice Melina coming down the street. Marisa taunts Melina, calling her... (full context)

...After a while, Maestra Oliviero returns some of her attentions to Lenù and her classmates Marisa and Carmela—but Lila, sensing she is about to be outshone, continues working harder academically and... (full context)

...bus in town, however, she realizes that all of the Sarratores except Nino have arrived. Marisa embraces Lenù excitedly and reintroduces Lenù to her family. Lenù feels depressed by Nino’s absence.... (full context)

Marisa reveals that Nino won’t come to the island until his father leaves—he cannot stand Donato.... (full context)

Nino arrives in the evening but shows “not the least emotion” upon seeing Lenù—Lenù believes Marisa must have called or written to him to tell him that she was there. Over... (full context)

One evening in August, Nino joins Lenù down by the beach after dropping Marisa off with her friends in town. He sits beside her and starts telling her about... (full context)

...calmed by his reassuring, gregarious presence. At night, Donato plays guitar for his family and Marisa’s friends. Lenù is struck by how different Nino is from his father: Donato is outgoing... (full context)

...“everything wrong again.” On a walk home one day with Lenù and Alfonso, Nino’s sister, Marisa, learns that Lenù and Alfonso are not going steady. After this, Nino’s behavior toward Lenù... (full context)

...the church, realizing that she hasn’t yet seen Alfonso—he is standing at the back with Marisa and Nino Sarratore. (full context)

...ceremony, everyone stands in the church courtyard. Lenù is shocked to realize that Alfonso and Marisa are together, and she wonders if they have made their relationship official. As Lenù spots... (full context)

...firm in her own resolve to escape no matter the cost. When Nino, Alfonso, and Marisa enter the room, Lenù jumps up from the table and, struggling against her mother as... (full context)

As Lenù makes conversation with Alfonso and Marisa—hoping that Nino will talk to her too—Antonio comes up behind Lenù and asks her to... (full context)